Locating device for perforating guns



Aprfl w, 1956 T. L. LONG LOCATING DEVICE FOR PERFORATING GUNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1952 M M mm m m M 0 w wldlddlza ,ll4, 4

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flrraen iKi April 10, 1956 T. L. LONG LOCATING DEVICE FOR PERFORATING GUNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1952 INVENTOR.

- firro /weys United States Patent LGCATING DEVICE FOR PERFORATING GUNS Thomas Long, Houston, Tex.', assignor, by theme assi'gnihntsf torlohnston Testers, Inc., Hoaston, Tern, a corp ationof Texas Application January 23, 1952, Serial 1%;267'351 scum-s. (Cl. 165-219) This invention relates to an'oil well tool, and in particular=toan oil well tool for locating a perforating gun in an oil-well.

A rnainobject of the present invention is to provide an oil-wellt ool-bywhich the location of collars in an oil well-casing canbe determined for the purposes-ofchecking measurements as to depth and to correlate the depth ofparticular zones in the formation penetrated by the wellcasing to aidin laterally perforating the forrnation'by means of a-perforating' gun.

A moreparticular object of the present invention isto provide a tool as generally described above including fingers-engageablewith the interior of thecasingto snap. into recesses provided between the adjacent ends of pipe-sections; andwhich tool includes a mechanism for collapsingv the fingers upon a predetermined upward pull Orr-the tool-to give a positive indication at the surface ofthe location of-variouscollared-joints.

A further object-of-the inventiondsto provide'a tool as described 'abovein which there is a mechanism forpermanentlycollapsing orretracting the fingers to permit ready removal of the oil well tool from a well;

An additional object of the present invention isto provide an oil well tool-as-above described in whichtheope'ration'of the mechanism for permanently collapsing':the-

fingers is initiated by detonation of the'explosive'chargesin the perforating gun.

Various otherobjects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccom'panying drawings wherein:

Fig. I isa'vertical longitudinal sectionthrough' a tool embodying the concepts of the present invention and showingPthe fingers of the tool in engagement with the-lower eridof apipe section.

Fig. 2' is a'view similar to Fig. l butshowing the' finge'rs jusratter thesame have been earnmed-off the Iower'erid of the pipe section. I

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the fingers as being permanently collapsed for removal of the tool from the well.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the construction and mounting of one feeler or finger.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, a tool embodying the concepts of the present invention is shown disposed in an oil well casing generally entitled 9, there being shown an upper pipe section 11 and a lower pipe section 13 connected by a collar 15 providing a recess 17 between the lower end 11a of upper section 11 and the upper end 13a of lower section 13.

The tool includes a body 19 threadedly secured at its upper end to a perforating gun generally entitled 21. Gun 21 includes a plurality of cartridge units 23, each unit including the usual projectile and powder charge for projecting the same out into the well casing.

Between perforating gun 21 and body 19 there is a 2,741,316 Patented Apr. 10,. 1-956- suitable -seal-'25.- For initiating the detonationof the powder charges in-"the "perforating gun there is provideda flash passage 27 extending down through the gun and to the'lo'wer end thereof. At or adjacentthe upperend of the flash passage 27 there is located a-conventional mechanism-s'uch -as '-an' electrical circuit'leading to the" surface for initiating detonation of the charges."

Body 19 has a-reduced depending: tubularportion' 1'9ahaving threaded-on the lower end thereof 'a' sleeve"29 locked thereon by a suitable lockorchnck nut 31} the lat ter havingopenings therethrough' as shown" in 1 Fig.- 1.- Sleeve 29 and thelo'wer depending'portion 19a of body 19 form an upwardly opening recess for the reception-"oi.= a mechanism to be now described.

Disposed around portion 19d and slidable" therealong isa finger carrier generally. entitled 33, in the Iform=of-3a= ring,- having pivoted thereonby their lower encls a plu' rality'of fingers -'35pivoting about pivots 37, whichare carried-in ears formed'on-carrier 33. Fingers '35 are:

spring urged outwardly. by torsion springs 39'as shown"- in Figs. 4 and 5. Springs '39'are relatively. Weak in; the sense that'they cannot support the fingers 35' (by the creat tionof an upward frictional"forceromponent between fingers 35"and sleeve 29) in the position in Fig; lagain'st the'force of gravity-acting on the carrier 33-and-the 'firr gets; so that if' not other'wisesupported fingers'35 an'dcarrier 33 will descend to theposition" shown in Figs3 to be disposed substantially-within sleeve 29;

For normally positioning: the fingers'upwardly where they can engage the-interior of'casing 9,.there'is provided a relatively strong compression springsdl supported by; amovable collar 43, the latter beinghel'dtinan upward' operative position a plurality of locking balls 45 received within openings" which are formed in tubular portion 192: of body 19; Balls 45 are held in' operativepos'itions by a plunger 47 slidably received within the interior of body 19; Plunger 47'is held in a position toretain 'balls 45' intheir locking positions by "a shear pin fii extending through body:19-and-'plunger-47.

Between the perforating gun21 and the body withereis provided an explosive charge 53 conimur'iicatin'giwith' the-flash passage 27 and adaptedto be detonated upon detonation of the charges-in th'e perforating; gun to driveplunger 57, downwardly-shearing pin- 51- andreleasing balls 45. 'As'is apparent fromFig; 1, plunger 47 'hasan enlarged lower end and-'a'redueed upwardly extending. stem, so that when t the 1 stem 3 is in registry with balls 45; the-balls will-beforced inwardlyby the downWard=pres= sure on collar- 4'3-permitting: the collar to move uirder the-influence of-gravityfromdhe positionshown in Fig; l to the positionshown in-Fig.- 3:

The operation of the tool is as follows: The tool can be lowered into the well in the position in Fig. 1 with the balls 45 in locked position so that the finger carrier 33 is disposed upwardly against a. shoulder or stop 1% provided on body 19 enabling the upper end of the fingers to engage the interior of the well casing. The tool is lowered into the well with the up er ends of the springs 35 sliding along the interior of the casing to approximately the position it is desired to inspect and locate collars and thereafter the tool is pulled upwardly until the upper ends of the fingers 35 enter a recess 17 and engage the lower end of a pipe section, Fig. 1 illustrating the fingers engaging the lower end 11a of upper section 11.

After engagement with the lower end of a pipe section, the upward pull on the tool can be continued to apply an increasing upward force on fingers 35 due to the compression of spring 41 and simultaneously to cam the fingers inwardly by the upward movement of sleeve 29. The resistive force of spring 41 is noted at the surface on the weight indicator and when the fingers are cammed 01f the pipe end, there is a sudden release of the "of the location of the pipe end and therefore the location of the collar. Spring 41 will then project fingers 35 out of sleeve 29 and springs 39 will cause re-engagement of the fingers with the interior of the casing at points slightly above end 11a. Thereafter, the tool can be raised to locate the next higher collar or lowered to locate the next lowercollar. Since the number of pipe sections and their lengths are known, the casing can be accurately perfo-t 'orated at any desired place therealong. If it is desired to perforate near the bottom of the casing, the usual procedure would be to first locate the lowermost collar and.

then the upper collars in turn until the depth at which it is desired to perforate is located. At other locations, the operator could proceed from the bottom upwardly or the top, downwardly, or selectan approximate position intermediate the top and bottom and proceed therefrom up or down.

When the desired depth is located, the charges of the perforating gun can be detonated to perforate the casing at desired points, such detonation of the charges resulting in a flame flash traveling down through passage 27 and causing detonation of charge 53. Upon detonation of this charge, plunger 47 is driven downwardly shearing pin 51 and dropping collar 43 because of inward movement of locking balls 45. As previously mentioned, light springs 39 are not strong enough to provide a sufiicient ment between the fingers and the lower ends of the pipe sections at the collared-joints. By the present invention, a tool has been provided whereby a perforating gun can be accurately located along a well casing to enable perforation of the casing at desired depths; 7

' While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a body adapted'to be lowered into a well casing and having I an annular upwardly facing recess formed therein, a finger carrier slidable along the body and into the recess thereof, a plurality of fingers on the carrier engageable with the well casing for locating the collars, springs urging said 7 fingers outwardly and having insufiicient strength to sup port said lingers in their operative positions against the 4 force of gravity acting on the carrier and fingers, a strong compression spring normally supporting the carrier in the upper portion of the recess with the fingers in operative positions extending outwardly over the top of the recess, a collar upon the body providing a releasable sup port for the strong spring, means including a shear pin supporting the body, and means for shearing the pin.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a body adapted to be lowered into a well casing, a sleeve secured to the body and partially enclosing the lower portion there: of to provide an annular upwardly facing recess'form'ed thereon, a finger carrier slidable along the body and into the recess, a plurality of fingers 'on the carrier engageable with the well casing for locating the collars, springs urging said fingers outwardly and having insufiicient strength to support said fingers in their operative positions against they force of gravity acting on the carrier and fingers, a strong compression spring yieldably supporting the carrier in the upper portion of the recess'with the fingers in operative casing-engaging positions, a collar slidably mounted upon the body within the recess to provide a support for the strong spring, a latch normally holding the collar against downward movement within the recess, ashear pin connecting the latch means to the body, and detonatable means operable to shear the pin;

3. A device for locating a joint of a well casing comprising a tubular body provided with means for attach ing the body to a well tool, a finger carrier slidably mounted upon the lower end of the body, fingers upon the carrier, t said fingers being spring actuated toward an outwardlyv extending position for engagement with the casing, a collar slidably mounted upon the body below the carrier, a spring between the collar and the carrier for re-. siliently supporting the carrier, a sleeve secured to the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 942,701 Baker Dec. 7,.1909 2,037,955 Wells Apr. 21, 1936 2,266,382 Quintrell et al Dec. 16, 1941 2,568,867 Otis Sept. 25, 1951 2,594,654 lobe Apr. 29, 1952 2,605,843 Baker Aug. 5,!1952 2,613,746 Whitney Oct. 14, 1952 

